Gretna v Derry City
Uefa Cup
2nd qualifying round, 1st leg
Thursday, 10 August
Fir Park
Kick-off: 1945 BST
Gretna are expected to stick with the same side that demolished Hamilton 6-0 on the opening day of their season.
The match is being played at Fir Park, the home of Motherwell, as Raydale Park is not suitable for the Division One club's first taste of European action.
Derry City are set to have fitness worry Peter Hutton available but Killian Brennan is still out injured.
Forward Pat McCourt will return to the Derry squad after several weeks out because of a groin injury.
Midfielder Kevin Deery and strikers Gary Beckett and Stephen O'Flynn had all been nursing injuries but are expected to be available to play.
Alexander anger at Gretna players
Gretna boss Rowan Alexander expressed anger at his players for not following his instructions as they fell to Derry.
Alexander said: \"It hurts because they did not adhere to what I told them and it is very annoying.
\"Maybe they needed something like this to show them that they're not as good as they think they are.
\"We gave away silly free-kicks and our passing was sloppy at the back but we have learned a lot tonight. You always learn a lot from defeat.\"
Kenny elated after Derry triumph
Derry City manager Stephen Kenny heaped praise on his players after their remarkable 5-1 thumping of Gretna in Thursday's Uefa Cup first leg.
\"We started very nervously so to come out 5-1 winners is tremendous,\" said the Derry City manager.
\"At half-time I said to the players that we had so much more to give.
\"I said that if we played with a higher tempo, we would definitely go on to win the game. The quality of the goals was absolutely sensational.\"
Kevin Deery and Ciaran Martyn both hit two goals apiece and the Derry boss was delighted with the contributions of the midfield duo.
\"Kevin is a great player for me and that's 11 goals from Ciaran Martyn from midfield this year and he was a month out as well.
\"We scored tremendous goals and there were tremendous performances all round tonight. Darren Kelly, Gary Beckett...I'm just thrilled with all of them.\"
Kenny is known for his caution but even he acknowledged that Derry are now on their way to the first round proper of the Uefa Cup after Thursday's Firhill romp.
\"We have a 100 per cent record at the Brandywell and we've beaten Gothenburg as well.
\"I think we will progress although we won't take anything for granted.\"
Kenny seemed almost emotional when he was asked about the presence of the 3,000 plus Derry fans who travelled to Motherwell's Fir Park where the game was played.
\"They are like that even when we lose. I've never been with a club that the fans clap you off when you lose. It's unique in itself.
\"The club has shown its potential in bringing 3,000 passionate supporters here tonight.\"
Candystripes mull over Uefa venue
Lansdowne Road remains the likely venue if Derry City opt to move their expected Uefa Cup first round home game away from the Brandywell.
Windsor Park has also been mentioned as a possible venue but club chief executive Jim Roddy has hinted that the Belfast ground could pose difficulties.
The Belfast ground is in a loyalist part of the city and Derry City have a predominantly nationalist support.
\"There would be a massive amount of word involved,\" said Roddy.
Derry City did take on Linfield in the Setanta Cup at Windsor Park earlier this year and the game passed off without incident.
However, Roddy said that the recent games between the two clubs \"weren't all plain sailing\".
\"Clubs like Derry City and Linfield have made massive strides and it was quite difficult to pull it off and we probably still have a way to go.
\"You would have the issue of going to Windsor Park and asking the people in the Village area around Windsor Park to accept the flying of the flag of the national association, which would be the (Irish) tricolour.\"
The club look certain to qualify for the first round proper as they take 5-1 lead into Thursday's Uefa Cup second qualifying round second leg against Gretna.
The first round proper games are scheduled for 14 and 28 September and Lansdowne Road does not have any bookings for those dates - although owners the Irish Rugby Football Union have not been contacted yet by Derry City.
Team boss Stephen Kenny told BBC Sport last week that he would prefer the game to remain at the Brandywell as it would increase the club's chances of progressing to the group stages of the competition.
Meanwhile, Derry City's hopes of landing the Eircom League title could be hit by an player eligiblity controversy surrounding Bohemians' 2-1 win over Shelbourne last Friday.
The Eircom League has said that Jason McGuinness should not have played in Friday's game.
Bohs could be docked three points and order to replay the game against Shels.
Friday's result helped Derry to move to the top of the table after their 1-1 away draw against Cork City.
Bohemians boss Gareth Farrelly has claimed his club received notification that McGuinness was eligible to play but this has been denied by the Eircom League.
Derry City v Gretna (Thurs) agg 5-1
Derry City will again be without Peter Hutton and Killian Brennan in Thursday's Uefa Cup second qualifying round second leg against Gretna.
Hutton is still troubled by a foot injury while Brennan remains out because of a knee problem but Stephen O'Flynn is available after suspension.
Recent signing Colin McMenamin won't be available for Gretna as he was not registered in time for the Uefa Cup.
Derry will take a 5-1 lead into the second leg tie at the Brandywell.
Kenny Deuchar will be available for the Scottish club despite being sent off in Saturday's 2-1 win over Ross County while David Graham could make his first start of the season.
Derry City v Gretna
Paddy McCourt is an injury doubt for Derry City's Uefa Cup second qualifying round second leg against Gretna on Thursday at the Brandywell.
McCourt only recently returned to action after injury and he has missed training in recent days.
Derry, 5-1 up from the first leg, are already without Peter Hutton and Killian Brennan but Stephen O'Flynn is available after suspension.
Recent Gretna signing Colin McMenamin is not registered for the Uefa Cup.
However, Kenny Deuchar will be available for the Scottish club despite being sent off in Saturday's 2-1 win over Ross County while David Graham could make his first start of the season.
Deuchar said that the Gretna players were determined to do themselves justice at the Brandywell after the first leg embarrassment.
\"Obviously it was a not a good result in the first leg but everyone is looking forward to it,\" said Deuchar.
People pay money in and we will not try to kill the game
Derry City manager Stephen Kenny
\"We've just got to go out and prove we can play and try to enjoy it.
\"We want to do ourselves justice in this leg and hopefully give a good account of ourselves.\"
Derry boss Stephen Kenny has ruled out a defensive display from his team.
\"It is our nature to go out and have a go and that should be good enough to take us through,\" he said.
\"People pay money in and we will not try to kill the game.
\"Gretna will be having a go throughout the game but we can counter attack with pace and cause them problems.
\"Also, the fact that it's a full-house, it's at the Brandywell and we want to preserve our 100% record eliminates any complacency.
\"Gretna are a strong side and we had a great win over there - it does not mean it will happen here.\"
Derry City 2-2 Gretna (7-3 agg)
Derry City reached the Uefa Cup first round with room to spare though Gretna gave a good account of themselves in a competitive contest at the Brandywell.
David Graham gave Gretna an early lead with a fine long-range effort, but Mark Farren slid the equaliser beyond Alan Main shortly before the interval.
Ken Oman poked the ball home in the 69th minute after a goalmouth scramble to send Derry ahead on the evening.
Gretna sub Ryan Baldacchino scored his side's second, but Derry were through.
Black and Whites manager Rowan Alexander had gone for a three-man attack in the hope of chasing down the four-goal deficit from the first leg.
And Gretna got the early goal when a headed clearance by Darren Kelly fell straight to Graham, who belted the ball past keeper David Forde from 35 yards.
Derry broke down the right in the 37th minute, Kevin McHugh squeezing the ball inside for Barry Molloy.
His perfect through ball in turn reached Farren, who finished the move well.
An inswinging corner began the move for the second Derry goal with home substitute Gary Beckett feeding Oman, who stabbed home in the 69th minute.
Gretna forced a 77th minute equaliser when the ball fell at the feet of Baldacchino, who tucked it into the empty net.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Derry City: Forde, McCallion, Hargan, Higgins (Deery 59), McHugh (Martyn 74), Oman, McGlynn, Barry Molloy, Farren, O'Flynn (Beckett 61), Kelly.
Subs Not Used: Jennings, Delaney, McCafferty.
Goals: Farren 37, Oman 69.
Gretna: Main, Birch, Grady, Skelton, Canning, Graham, Deuchar, McGuffie (Jenkins 73), Tosh (O'Neil 53), Townsley, Granger.
Subs Not Used: Mathieson, Innes, Baldacchino, McGill, Nicholls.
Goals: Graham 17, Baldacchino 77.
Agg: (7-3)
Att: 2,850
Ref: Hendrik Senderby (Denmark).
